Forsyth Barr has established a new management role to meet growing demand for advice and solutions on embedding ESG (environment, social and governance) principles into investment strategies for clients.

The firm has appointed Katie Beith to be its first Head of ESG. Katie has joined Forsyth Barr from the NZ Super Fund, where she was Senior Investment Strategist, Responsible Investment. She has a long career in ESG investment, beginning in 2004 with Newton Investment Management in London where she introduced the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment into the company’s processes.

After joining the NZ Super Fund in February 2016, Katie was a key contributor to driving the Fund’s climate change investment strategy and designing its new sustainable finance strategy. She also sits on the External Reporting Board’s Stakeholder Advisory Board.

The Head of ESG role will support all parts of the Forsyth Barr business in this rapidly growing area.

“Not only are our clients seeking guidance on these factors, the firm will also be embedding these principles into how we invest client funds we manage and into our investment management guidelines,” says Forsyth Barr Managing Director Neil Paviour-Smith.

Many of Forsyth Barr’s significant investment clients such as community trusts, iwi and philanthropic funds have ESG principles as a priority in their mandates.

“Katie’s expertise will help incorporate ESG factors into our research process, investment strategy and client reporting as well as assisting advisers with specific client needs,” he says.

“Forsyth Barr recognises there is a new normal in the way it operates and helps clients invest. I’m delighted to join such a high quality and long-established New Zealand firm and to help steer a very deliberate commitment to ESG that goes into all elements of the business,” Katie Beith says.